Hero's and Role Models

[Susan]

My hero is Captain Noel Chavasse. He was the only man to win two Victoria Crosses in the First World War and he was a medic who never fired a shot.

You can read his story here:

http://www.chavasse.me.uk/chavasse.html

Susan

PS for those who don't know the Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the UK and Commonwealth. A VC takes preference over any other award.

[Zarabeth MacAllister]

Bruce Lee
Jerry Goldsmith
Kevin Aucoin

[Amelie-Laveau]

My transgender person that I admire would be Lee Brewster. Funny thing, I can’t find much about him on the net. He was active in the tg community , from what I know at least in the seventies, probably even in the sixties. He was active in changing laws in NYC that stated that cding was an illegal. He actually went up against the powers in those days. I met him in about the late 70’s. He owned a boutique for cds called Lee’s Mardi Gras. The store seemed to sell stuff for drag queens, you know, lots of feathers and sequins. But because I admired what he had done for cds and such, I would buy make-up and a few wigs there. I did once buy these neat ankle boots, just like Stevie Nicks would wear. I could always shoplift my make up from Woolworths or some similar store, but I felt I had to support Lee and what he done,, so I bought stuff from him.



The first store he had that I went to was on 9th ave near 42 st, then he moved downtown to 14st in the meat district, weird place, it had an elevator door that opened right onto the street, no lobby or entranceway, straight from the street onto the elevator, Across the street was the Vault S&M club, formerly known as Hellfire club. This area came alive at night with shemale street walkers. The gay clubs in this area were so nasty that I didn’t even go into them, names like the Anvil and Mineshaft, these clubs didn‘t like fairy queens.. This was a weird hood back then, it’s probably all yuppie condos today.


Three people I knew from the clubs worked at his store, Shannon, who also performed drag shows, Robbie from Long Island and another person who I met in the drag bars but I forget her name, she was photographer. I just wish that I got to know Lee better and find out what he was really like,, most of the time I would just have small talk with him,, weather and stuff like that.

I just found this page on the web about Lee,,, hey,, Donna, he’s from West Virginia.

http://www.yvonnesplace.net/news/leebrewster.html


Lol,, now that I look, I can find stuff about Lee on the net, I must have been lazy when I tried before.

[Chloe]

Tim Curry and Eddie Izzard are on my list as others have said. I'd like to add Brian Viglione from Dresden Dolls (a wonderful band. Kind of like Cabaret gone goth) and the character of Judy from better than chocolate who is now my CDing role model.

[Stephenie G]

Since joining this forum most of you gilrs have been my role model. Not noing any other cder's to talk or hang out with. although im my area crossdressing has been in the media or others have talk about the ones they've seen. My wifes cousins next door neighbour is one & i always thought good for him to be so brave(he wore cheerleders outfit will doing yard work) another came out to work ,family & decided to live full time en-fem, these people I somewhat envied , part of me would love to dress full time en-fem.Threw this site i've learned to love my fem side & done things I would never tried before. People like Denise love, Lydia, & CJ & you Kimberly S have all been insirational (others too but to many to list).It was here i realized a bra is a part of the fem look I needed to feel more fem , i bought a wig (not sure yet about this feel)as i have little hair left in male mode (feels strange seeing long hair on head) but i love the make-up which was something I was missing to my fem look.As i've posted before looking forward to warmer weather to go out more total fem, but love shopping & wearing fem clothes in male mode it for now seems more right for me but maybe the full fem may feel that way later.so i like to say thanks to all you girls & sorry if post seems long Stephenie G

[Anthony Simon]

My CDing heroes (actually all female impersonators):

Danny La Rue: UK Drag Queen, much loved public figure. I used to be just absolutely fascinated by him as a teenager. Once I went to a pantomine where he played the lead role. I remember him leading the girls in the audience in song, while someone else lead the guys. I sang (in as far as what comes out of my mouth might be considered song) with the girls.

Candy Darling: US Drag Queen. Just someone I thought amazingly beautiful and wished I could do that. Also, as part of the Warhol thing a counterculture hero who became something of an icon. Kind of took dressing up out of the ghetto (a bit, in my mind).

Christopher Morley; US Female Impersonator in films and on TV. There's a TV program called "Is He or Isn't She?" with some amazing stuff in the first few minutes. Used to be available on the net.

Lavern Cummings: Another US Drag Queen who I only discovered in the internet age. Just so convincing and beautiful and natural...

[Paula G]

This is a good topic, and one that has got me thinking, I am a little surprised that it has not evinced more comments. A while back I was provoked into think about role models and heroes on my blog, take a look at what I said then here, http://meandmrst.blogspot.com/2010/08/heroes.html these are of course main stream role models from activities I am passionate about.

As for cross dressing role models this is much more difficult, since there are so few to choose from, if there are any cross dressers who are who are well known for other “main stream” activities then most of them are keeping quite about their cross dressing. Eddie Izard is outstanding. The first time I saw him on the “Parkinson” show was, I think, the first time I had ever seen another cross dresser, as distinct from drag artists, and here he was on main stream television, appearing on one of the most popular shows there has ever been on British TV, openly and tastefully dressed and happily talking about it in a sensible but entertaining manner. Eddie has shown himself to be a confident and classy cross dresser, a determined athlete, a talented actor, and very, very funny. Yes he is certainly a role model for me in both my performing and my cross dressing.

I have deliberately excluded drag artists and actors who have played cross dressing roles, since they are performing, what we are doing is not a performance, it is not something we do it is something we are. For example I admire Dustin Hoffman for his acting, and although I thought he was tremendous in Toutsie that does not make him a cross dressing role model (other than perhaps in style choices).

It is only since beginning to accept this aspect of my life a little more, joining this forum and looking at other on line resources that I am becoming aware of just how many of us there are, one role model I have found on line is Stana of the wonderful Femulate blog http://www.femulate.org/ again not just because of her cross dressing, or femulations, but also because of her writing, and the dedication to keeping an up to date blog, believe me I know how challenging that is!

By our very nature we tend to be invisible, that of course means that we are also very short of role models. Anyone who is in the public eye these days is subject to a great deal of scrutiny and criticism, to make the decision to be out, while under that scrutiny must be very difficult. I suspect that until there are more cross dressers who are famous for activities other than their cross dressing then we will be short of role models, will continue to be at best on the margins of society, and will continue to be hidden, fearfull of derision, and subject to abuse. It needs more of us to be publicly out, and out publicly, but most of all we need well know people in the public eye who are prepared to not only admit to their cross dressing (there must be many of them) but also to publicly dress. I fear that this ideal may be a long way off, can you imagine a main stream political party putting up a cross dressing candidate for election?

[Sophie Scot]

My best friend Joanne is very much a hero to me,She took me under her wing so to speak when I first ventured out and she is very much an Individual she dresses extravagantly in that she dresses in skimpy clothing,but is in her 60s.Bur I love her Individuality and desire to be who she wants to be without having to compromise.Sadly she cant get dressed much now and our adventures seem to be over,but she will always be a hero as well as a great friend

Sophie

[Anthony Simon]

I have deliberately excluded drag artists and actors who have played cross dressing roles, since they are performing, what we are doing is not a performance, it is not something we do it is something we are. For example I admire Dustin Hoffman for his acting, and although I thought he was tremendous in Toutsie that does not make him a cross dressing role model (other than perhaps in style icon?)

I just feel an affinity for these people. And also an admiration, in that they're out there dressed up, loud and proud. It is of course antithetical to the crossdressing ideal of wanting to pass. But I have a problem with the idea of me being a man and, if I ever went out (and was somewhat successful), people taking me as a woman. It kind of ties my head in knots that one.

The affinity is just because they're living a dream - of being dressed up and being able to do what they do, even while they have to cope with a degree of flak for doing so. The performance aspect of drag queens allows them to cross the gender barrier without it being as threatening as if they were doing it just because they liked it (or admitted to it).

Also 3 out of the 4 drag queens I chose were just plain great to look at - and I'm afraid that does have an influence on me. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I am not so keen on Eddie Izzard - he doesn't look that great. But also, somehow I find myself rather unmoved by his humour. I guess that's just different strokes...

Perhaps my heroes are more like ideals I can never hope to equal but still find inspirational rather than people I hope to emulate (to some degree). Kind of like bright stars in the fermament.

[Paula G]

I think that when I consider role models, I am thinking of those who have achieved something I want to achieve, or are operating in the same field with excellence. This is why for me I have excluded drag performers, yes some can look superb, and having seen Danny La Rue in Panto, even in old age his presentation and performance is flawless. With a female impersonator (I think this is a little different to drag) there is no pretence that this is anything other than a performance of a woman, this is not what I try to do, therefore not a role model for me in the same way that John Fletcher is for me as a tuba player, or Fran Cotton as a Rugby player.

What this has made me think about is the difference between role models and heroes. Role models are people who achieve, perform or behave well in a our own spheres, people we can aspire to emulate. Heroes are those that we admire because they have done something that we consider beyond the normal, beyond anything that we think we can achieve.

Susan's "hero is Captain Noel Chavasse. He was the only man to win two Victoria Crosses in the First World War and he was a medic who never fired a shot.

You can read his story here:

http://www.chavasse.me.uk/chavasse.html "

He is a hero in the true sense, I have no hope or aspiration to follow his lead, indeed I am now far to old, but this does not dim my admiration, but he is not a role model for me.

I'll stop now as I think I am beginning to waffle.